Energy device having collectors with rubber materials stacked in layers and a method of fabricating the energy device

Abstract

In a basic cell of an energy device, a pair of electrodes are disposed opposite to each other via a separator interposed therebetween. A pair of collectors are disposed to be in contact with the outer surfaces of the electrodes. A gasket is cooperated with the collectors to surround the separator and the electrodes. An electrolyte is filled in a region surrounded by the collectors and the gasket. Each of the collectors has a first and a second rubber material stacked in layers. By connecting in series a plurality of basic cells each having the foregoing structure, a desired energy device can be obtained.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An energy device comprising: 
 a separator,    a pair of electrodes disposed opposite to each other via said separator;    a pair of collectors disposed so as to be in contact with outer surfaces of said electrodes, respectively;    a gasket cooperated with said collectors to surround said separator and said electrodes; and    an electrolyte filled in a region surrounded by said collectors and said gasket, each of said collectors having a first and a second rubber material stacked in layers.    
     
     
         2 . The energy device according to  claim 1 , wherein said first and said second rubber materials are different in composition from each other.  
     
     
         3 . The energy device according to  claim 1 , wherein said first rubber material has a resistivity smaller than that of said second rubber material.  
     
     
         4 . The energy device according to  claim 2 , wherein said first rubber material has a gas barrier performance smaller than that of said second rubber material.  
     
     
         5 . The energy device according to  claim 1 , wherein said first and said second rubber materials differ in hardness from each other, a smaller one in hardness of said first and said second rubber materials being disposed outside of another of said first and said second rubber materials.  
     
     
         6 . The energy device according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said first and said second rubber materials comprises a base rubber and conductive members compounded in said base rubber.  
     
     
         7 . The energy device according to  claim 6 , wherein the base rubber of said first rubber material is different from the base rubber of said second rubber material in composition.  
     
     
         8 . The energy device according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said first rubber material, said second rubber material, and said gasket has a vulcanization adhesive property.  
     
     
         9 . The energy device according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said collectors has a thickness falling within a range of 120 μm to 200 μm.  
     
     
         10 . The energy device according to  claim 1 , wherein said electrolyte is a metal corrosive electrolyte.  
     
     
         11 . The energy device according to  claim 1 , wherein said electrolyte is an acid electrolyte.  
     
     
         12 . A method of fabricating an energy device comprising the steps of: 
 sandwiching a separator between a pair of electrodes in a stacked manner to form a first assembly;    placing said first assembly within a gasket having a vulcanization adhesive property;    superposing a plurality of rubber materials to each other to form a pair of collectors, each of said rubber materials having each vulcanization adhesive properties;    sandwiching said first assembly between said collectors in a stacked manner to form a second assembly;    pressurizing said second assembly from both sides in a stacking direction thereof; and    heating said second assembly to unify said second assembly.